422 Journal op the Department of Agriculture. 



EXPORT OF SOUTH AFRICAN EGGS, 1920. 



Kepoil hy 1{. HoiTRi.AY, Poultry Instiudoi , ScIkioI nt 

 Ayiiciiltur^'. Potcliefstrooiii. 



The year 1920 constitutes a record in the export of eggs 

 from the Union of South Africa. Aniph' space was offering on 

 the outward hound steamers during Octoher and Novem])er. and had 

 tlie eggs heen available for export, many more could have heen 

 shipped. 



The shipments for 1920 were as follows : September, 702 cases ; 

 Octoher, 19,821 cases; November, 3017 cases. In addition, 45 cases 

 were shipped in September as part of the South African exhibit at 

 the Dairy Show, London, held on 19th October, 1920. These eggs 

 M'ere awarded a gold medal. The total of 2'j,540 cases represents 

 8,474,400 eggs, being an average of 1.005 eggs per bird, based on the 

 last Census returns of poultry in the Union. 



The shipments for the past seven years were as follows:- — 



Year. No. of Cases. 



1914 1,927 



1915 5.908 



1910 14,959 



1917 12,189 



1918 Nil. 



li)l<) 10,180 



1920 23,540 



This steady increase in the egg exjiort is a most satisfactory 

 indication of the inogress of the poultry industry in the Union. 



The Cape Province supplied the greater quantity of export eggs, 

 its share being 84 per cent. The Transvaal and Natal together 

 siipplied only 1() pei' cent., this, however, being an increase in the 

 proportion shipped fi'oni these two Provinces in former yeais. 



(lidding. — Whilst the grading and packing of most of the 

 shippers were good, those of certain packi>rs Avere very unsatisfactory, 

 and necessitated extra work in rehandling the eggs. This is a very 

 short-sighted policy : the extra expense involved is an entirely 

 unnecessary one, and would be avoided were thf eggs properly graded 

 in the first instance. 



In some consignments it would ajjpear that the had packinj.); 

 was due to a misinterpretation of the export regulations. These, 

 however, are perfectly clear and i)recise on the matter. First-grade 

 eggs must weigh 15 lb. or over, per long hundred (120). and no indivi- 

 dual eg<v may weigh less than 1| oz. Frequently mixed parcels of 



